Profiling microRNA in the potential lung recipients

MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules stable in blood serum (plasma) samples. Their level of expression is associated with the severity and nature of physiological and pathological processes in the body.

Aim: to evaluate the expression levels of five microRNAs (miR-27, miR-101, miR-142, miR-339 and miR-424) in potential lung recipients with end-stage chronic lung diseases of various etiologies.

Materials and methods. The study included 16 patients with end-stage chronic lung diseases (potential lung recipients) aged 4 to 74 years (average 36 ± 18). Among them were two children (12.5%) – girls aged 4 and 14 years, and 14 adults aged from 21 to 74 (40 ± 16) years – 6 men (42.9%) and 8 women. The control group consisted of 12 healthy individuals. The main diseases that caused severe respiratory failure were: cystic fibrosis (n = 5), primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH; n = 4), pulmonary fibrosis of various etiologies (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – 1; pulmonary fibrosis associated with exogenous allergic alveolitis – 1; radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis – 1), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (n = 2), histiocytosis (n = 1) and pulmonary emphysema (n = 1). MicroRNA expression was detected through real-time PCR. The level of microRNA expression in plasma was estimated in accordance with instructions for reagent kits (Qiagen, USA).

Results. The levels of miR-27, miR-101 and miR-339 in potential lung recipients were significantly higher than in healthy individuals. The levels differed depending on the etiology of diseases: the levels of miR-27, miR-101, miR-142 and miR-339 were higher in patients with cystic fibrosis than in healthy individuals; in patients with other lung diseases, only miR-101 levels where higher than in healthy individuals. The miR-424 level in healthy individuals did not differ from that in potential lung recipients or in subgroups.

Conclusion. Results obtained show the features of a number of microRNA levels (miR-27, miR-101, miR-142, and miR-339) under certain lung diseases and suggest a possibility of a diagnostic value in patients with chronic respiratory failure during pre-transplant examination.

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